Nick Saban is pumped about A-Day, his buddy Tom Izzo... and other stuff!

Only two weeks remain until A-Day. It's funny, but even with all the Alabama accomplished since Nick Saban arrived on Jan. 3, 2007, the team is still known nationally for that year's A-Day game almost as much as anything. As if you didn't know, 92,000-plus showed up, it was all over ESPN, and recruits noticed.

This year, it will be making more than a SportsCenter cameo, as the Worldwide Leader is coming to T-Town to show the country what goes on here. But how will that affect attendance? Will UA match the number from 2007 or even the 78,200 from 2008?

That questions brings us to tomorrow's notes:

*****Alabama's A-Day scrimmage is two weeks from this past Saturday, and Alabama coach Nick Saban has already been receiving material in the mail from schools who want to challenge the Crimson Tide's attendance record set in 2007.

"All this promotional stuff they're doing to try to beat us on spring game attendance," said Saban, whose first A-Day game was watched by more than 92,000 fans. "It's amazing. Like it's an arms race."

This year's game on April 18 is televised by ESPN, which Saban said is another opportunity to create a positive image on a national level.

"I know we have set the standard for what spring games are," Saban said. "The very strong support we had at A-Day has been a real positive for the program and the institution. It had a tremendous impact on recruiting, and the fact that this year's game's on ESPN, it would have a tremendous (impact) for national exposure."

*****Senior left guard Mike Johnson did not participate in practice on Saturday because of a sprained ankle. Saban said he's not sure when Johnson will return, but he estimated he will miss a few days of work.

"Somebody fell on his ankle (on Friday)," Saban said. "I always talk about in practice when guys are on the ground it's a problem and that was certainly the case."

*****Saban may focus on football, but on Saturday, his mind was also on basketball. He walked right into his news conference and asked, "What time is the Final Four?" His buddy Tom Izzo, Michigan State's coach, would later take his team to the finals, much to the delight of Saban.

"I talked to him Monday and congratulated him on their game that they played over Louisville," Saban said after practice. "I will watch the game today if I ever get home."

*****Receiver Chris Jackson was limited during the workout because of turf toe. Running back Mark Ingram (hamstring) is "making some progress," Saban said, but he still couldn't practice.

*****Linebacker Brandon Fanney's indefinite suspension ended on Friday. On Saturday, Saban, "He did what he was asked to do. Now he's got to go out there and work his way up the depth chart."

*****When Saban watched Wednesday's scrimmage live, his first impressions were that quarterback Greg McElroy was efficient, the offensive line was further along than he anticipated, and that the defense played decently.

"That's what looking at the film certainly confirmed to me," Saban said.

*****Signee Kellen Williams, an offensive lineman from Snellville, Ga. tore ligaments in his knee, Saban said, though it's not clear whether it will affect his enrollment in the fall.

*****In describing why having players in certain positions does not mean there is a depth chart, Saban shed some light on a convoluted battle at safety.

"It's like, Robby Green went with the first unit at free safety because we wanted Ali (Sharrief) and (Justin) Woodall to work at strong safety and Mark Barron and Robby at free safety," Saban said, "yet in nickel and dime, Mark Barron was playing safety because we wanted to get him those reps and Robby played with the 'two' group."